Page 16 of Yankee in the Wind

“Fair enough.” He sat down on the armchair and pointed to the sofa. “You might want to sit down for this.”

Reluctantly, she sat down on the sofa.

“I am Jack Porter, and I was in the military with Thomas Reed, your cousin. And the reason you don’t recognize me is because I had plastic surgery.”

She huffed. “Yeah, right! What baloney! You’re not Jack. I know Jack. I slept with Jack, so trust me when I tell you that I would recognize him. Sure, you’re the same height, the same build, and even the same eyes, but that’s where all similarities end, so don’t think you can con me into believing you’re him.”

A slow smile spread over his face. “I get it. How much do you remember of that night seven years ago?”

“Everything!” It was true. She’d relived every second of her night with Jack many times over.

“Good. Then I guess you’ll remember this.” He stood up and put his hand on his jeans. He opened the button.

She jumped up, ready to flee. “What the fuck are you doing?”

“Showing you proof that I’m Jack.”

He lowered the zipper and pushed his jeans down to mid-thigh. Then he hooked his thumbs into the waistband of his boxer briefs and pushed them down too.

His cock jutted out, heavy but relaxed. She couldn’t rip her gaze from the sight. There was the proof.

“Your birthmark.”

Right there on his cock was a birthmark that looked like the state of Texas. She’d seen it the night of the Reed family BBQ, after she’d gone back to Jack’s hotel where they’d made love all night. It wasn’t something that could be faked, or that many people even knew about.

She took a step toward him, but there was no doubt in her mind. This was Jack. The man who’d broken her heart.

“Believe me now?” he asked.

She lifted her head. “Yes, I believe you.”

Then she balled her right hand into a fist and punched him in the face as hard as she could.

His head whipped to the side, and he groaned.

“Guess I had that coming for a long while.”

9

Lilly had taken him by surprise. It shouldn’t have. After all, he’d left her without a word or explanation the morning after their night of lovemaking. Like a thief in the night, he’d disappeared. He hadn’t been able to tell her the reason why.

“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry about what happened back then,” he said while he pulled up his boxer briefs and pants and zipped up.

“Well, thanks a lot. That’s exactly what a girl wants to hear when a guy disappears after he’s gotten what he wanted.”

“I never got what I wanted.” The words were out before he could stop them. They were the truth, although he hadn’t wanted to admit this to her.

“Now you’re insulting me by insinuating that I’m not good in bed?”

She’d totally misunderstood him.

Lilly balled her hand into a fist once more, but Jack grabbed it before she could punch him again and held it tightly. One punch was enough.

“That’s not what I meant by it.” He should keep his mouth shut and not take her bait, but he hated lying to her, hated pretending that the night seven years ago had meant nothing.

“Oh please!” she scoffed.

“I wanted you, but I couldn’t stay. I had to leave you...”